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ORegen 5-5990 Wookly Bulletin #1699 = 90 cE ORR ets May 231 18% f Ly CENSORSHIP OF COLIC BOOKS OPPOSED ON CIVIL LIBERTIES GROUNDS * ” x eres Censorship of comic books is an unconstitutional method of combatting the probs if lem of juvenile delinquency, the American Civil Liberties Union has stateds Oo The Union asserted in a policy statement filed with the Senate Judiciary Sube 8 committee on Juvenile Delinquency that there is a wide variety of opinion as to the relationship between the reading of crime comics and delinquency and that “at this time there has been no showing that the circulation of ‘crime comic books constitute: a clear and present danger." Unless such a danger is shown, the ACW said, ; there are inadequate alternative means to combat this evil, there is no justificatd for_cutting_into_a basic right guaranteed by the US» Constitution, a free press fn. hampered by goverrmental intarferences > x4 "The ACLU understands the concern of American parents that their children ar being subjected to a barrage of ‘written material that may wield real influence on their impressionable minds," the Union pointed out in its statements But there is another danger that must be equally considered ~ the danger of censorshipe "To suppress books in the absence of a clear and present danger, even offensive’, eomic books, is in violation of the First Amendments And the weakening of the First. Amendment can lead to the undermining of our free institutions, which we want our children and their children to enjoy and respects") 0 a : The circulation of all books involves risk, the ACLU added, "but risk is an ine delible mark of democracy and a society of freedom." | 7 .- “ee ate . ‘ In place of censorship, the Union recommended parental control over the reading. habits of children, continued work by school, religious, and community groups to. ~ lessen delinquency, additional study of the relation b comic. books, and proper invoking of obscenity lawse fe : ta fe NGI ; "The problem of juvenile delinquency is of major impo; . aN every legitimate effort must be made to deal with its eee otha a its cure," the statement said. "As an organization concerned with the welfare of the American/ commnity, and as parents concerned with the welfs of ildren, we are arxioue’ that this alarming problem be ‘solved. : Ba The Uiion noted that while a large segment of the horror conics stimulate children to commit crimes, expe! child psyrhology, psychiatry, and lew enforcement . ‘Mile asserting that it was not ite function to pass on t perts! opinions, the ACIU said it believed "that comic books, may ylay an important part in the development ; in view of the divergent = even contradictory ' qualified persons, it helieves there is lacking th a significant cause of delinquencyse - “hh The Union considered point by point various proposals for censoring comic pooki It emphasized that censorship ¢coliid not be imposed for “children alone, not only-be: gauge a large portion of comic book readers are adults; but because to condone pare 1 prescensorship would be to invite a spreading of censorship to other rei ‘ materials, ‘"To institutionalize the censor and his scissors is a real dangors Govermental censorship, even in a limited form, has within it the means. of destroy: ing the climate neadad to nurture free thought and expression = the of, men. . : a ws , “4 neouint Wettdr!DPRrice. gyaruen INFORMATION FURNISHED ON RE eae ne eS